Havering

Havering's population increased by about 13,000 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 240,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Havering increased by 5.8%, from about 224,000 to 237,000.

The addition of almost 13,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Havering was home to, on average, 15 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it London's second-least densely-populated borough.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Havering

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Havering increased by one year, from 39 to 40 years.

This area had the highest average age in London and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,700 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 4,000.

About 12.0% of people in Havering are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Havering by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

Havering saw London's largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just under one in two (48.6%) people aged 16 and over in Havering said they were married, compared with 54.8% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 27.1% to 33.0%.

Across the region, Bexley saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of married people (from 53.0% in 2001 to 47.9% in 2011).

The proportion of married people was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Havering residents that were unemployed increased from 2.6% to 4.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (53.5%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 54.3% in 2001. The percentage of Havering residents that were self-employed increased from 8.7% to 10.5%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 4.4% in 2001 to 5.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Havering increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Havering, London and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Havering saw London's third-largest fall in the proportion of people working long hours.

In 2011, just under 1 in 10 (10.0%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Havering said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 13.4% in 2001. The percentage that worked less than 16 hours in a week increased from 1.6% to 2.6%.

Across the region, only Barking and Dagenham (from 11.8% to 7.5%) and Enfield (from 12.1% to 8.6%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of people working long hours.

Long hour working in Havering decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Havering, London and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Havering residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.1% to 2.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.1%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 1.7% in 2001 to 1.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Havering remained close to 2.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Havering by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Havering

The percentage of Havering residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.1% to 3.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.2%, while the percentage of Havering residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.6% to 89.4%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Havering

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Havering was among those who said they had no religion, rising 9.9 points.

In 2011, 24.2% of respondents in Havering gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 14.3% of those who answered in 2001.

Across London, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.3% to 22.7%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Havering, 70.3% said they were Christian, compared with 82.6% in 2001. About 2.2% said they were Muslim, compared with 0.9% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and said they were Hindu increased from 0.8% to 1.3%.

In Havering, 6.7% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.8% in 2001. Across London, 8.5% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population that said they had no religion in Havering increased by 9.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, London and Havering by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Havering, but at a slower rate than in Dartford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Havering).

In Havering, the proportion of private renting increased from 5.5% in 2001 to 10.6% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Dartford increased from 8.0% to 15.9%.

Across London, the share of privately rented homes increased from 15.3% to 25.1%.

The rate of social housing in Havering remained close to 14.2%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 78.9% to 73.8%.

Private renting in Havering increased by 5.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Havering, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Havering

In 2011, 4.8% of Havering residents said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from 1.4% in 2001. The 3.4 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across London, the percentage of people from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 10.9% to 13.3%, while across England the percentage went from 2.4% to 3.6%.

Around 87.7% of people in Havering said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 95.2% in 2001. About 4.9% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 2.2% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from 1.0% to 2.1%.

The population from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups in Havering increased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Havering by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Havering residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.3% to 5.2% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81.6%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69.7% in 2001. The percentage of Havering residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.0% to 13.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 8.3% in 2001 to 5.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Havering decreased by 3.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Havering, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Havering, which comprised a single parent, increased from 9.2% to 11.8% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (35.1%) households had a married couple, compared with 40.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in Havering, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.2% to 8.7%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 11.1% in 2001 to 12.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Havering increased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Havering, London and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households without children fell in Havering, but at a slower rate than in Bexley (one of the most statistically similar areas to Havering based on ONS area classifications).

In Havering, the proportion of households without children decreased from 57.9% in 2001 to 56.8% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in statistically similar Bexley decreased from 57.6% to 54.5%.

Across London, the share of households without children decreased from 62.4% to 59.8%.

The proportion of households with children in Havering remained close to 30.1%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 13.1%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across London

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

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